Your number has a reputation score you don't see, but which determines if your calls go through or display "Spam Likely". Understanding how this score is calculated is essential to protect your prospecting activity.
What Is Phone Reputation Score?
The reputation score is a rating assigned to each phone number by anti-spam systems (carriers, apps like Truecaller/Hiya, databases).
This score determines:
- If your call displays normally
- If "Spam Likely" appears
- If the call is automatically blocked
- If your number is blacklisted
Typical Scale
| Score | Status | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10 | Excellent | Normal display, optimal pickup rate |
| 7-8 | Good | Normal display in most cases |
| 5-6 | Neutral/Unknown | No label, but monitored |
| 3-4 | Suspect | "Spam suspicion" possible |
| 1-2 | Bad | "Spam Likely" displayed |
| 0 | Blacklisted | Calls automatically blocked |
Score Calculation Factors
1. Call Volume (weight: ~25%)
Number of calls made per day/week is a major signal:
- < 20 calls/day: Normal behavior → neutral to positive score
- 20-50 calls/day: Likely commercial activity → monitoring
- 50-100 calls/day: Alert signal → declining score
- > 100 calls/day: Spammer behavior → very low score
2. Pickup Rate (weight: ~20%)
If few people answer, it's suspicious:
- > 20% pickup: Normal → stable score
- 10-20%: Acceptable → slight monitoring
- 5-10%: Concerning → declining score
- < 5%: Typical of spam → very degraded score
3. Average Call Duration (weight: ~15%)
- > 2 minutes: Real conversations → positive score
- 30 sec - 2 min: Normal → neutral
- 10-30 sec: Short but acceptable → monitoring
- < 10 sec: Immediate hangups = spam → negative score
4. User Reports (weight: ~25%)
This is the most impactful factor in the short term:
- 0 reports: Stable score
- 1-5 reports: Minor alert → -1 to -2 points
- 5-20 reports: Serious problem → -3 to -5 points
- > 20 reports: Near-automatic blacklist
5. Number History (weight: ~10%)
- Old number (5+ years): Trust bonus
- Recent number (< 6 months): Increased monitoring
- Recycled number: May inherit bad reputation
6. Call Pattern (weight: ~5%)
- Regular calls, normal hours: Neutral
- Burst calls: Suspect
- Sequential dialing (0601, 0602, 0603...): Very suspect
- Calls outside legal hours: Strong spam signal
How Score Evolves Over Time
Fast Degradation, Slow Recovery
This is the most important rule to understand:
- Degradation: Few hours to few days
- Recovery: Several weeks to several months
A number can go from 8/10 to 2/10 in one week of bad practices. Getting back to 8/10 can take 3-6 months.
Strategies to Improve Your Score
Short Term (1-4 weeks)
- Immediately reduce volume: Go below 35 calls/day
- Target better: Fewer but more qualified calls = better pickup rate
- Respect hours: Only 10am-1pm and 2pm-8pm weekdays
Medium Term (1-3 months)
- Put number on rest: 2-4 weeks without prospecting activity
- Use only for "warm" calls: Qualified prospect follow-ups
- Build positive history: Long calls, high pickup rate
Long Term (3-6 months)
- Planned rotation: See our rotation guide
- Certification: Hiya Connect or equivalent to display your name
- Continuous monitoring: Weekly check of all your numbers
FAQ
Does a new number have a good default score?
No. A new number generally has a "neutral" score (5-6/10) and is subject to increased monitoring. You must build its reputation progressively.
Can you "buy" a good reputation?
Not directly. Certification services (Hiya Connect) allow displaying your name, but don't change spam score if your practices are bad.
Is the score the same on all networks?
No. A number can be well-rated on Truecaller and poorly rated at Orange. You must check on all platforms.
For an effective line management strategy, find out if number rotation is a good idea.
Conclusion
Phone reputation score is an invisible but crucial asset for any prospecting activity. Understanding how it works allows you to:
- Anticipate problems before they occur
- React quickly to first degradation signals
- Build lasting long-term reputation
Check the reputation score of all your numbers on HUHU.
